When you have a large collection of digital photographs, there likely comes a time when you want to add cool effects to images. These can range from wacky and fun to serious retouching. With these freeware and shareware downloads, you can apply a myriad of different effects to your images.
While many of these programs can apply effects to a single image, others can also perform batch photo editing and apply effects to many different types of images like JPG, PNG, GIF and even PSD Photoshop images.
If there is a tool here you find that isn't freeware, there is always the chance to take advantage of the free trial period.
A highly successful and popular freeware image editor with tons of different applicable uses.
Paint.NET can add text to an image, apply special effects to a picture, create PNG graphics and create web graphics.
Free web photo album creator. Customize with skins. Publish on any site.
jAlbum can add text to an image, apply special effects to a picture, create slideshows and optimize graphics.
An icon creator and editor with drop shadows, glow and bevel features.
Greenfish Icon Editor Pro can apply special effects to a picture, create PNG graphics, create web graphics, optimize graphics and batch process images.
FreeVimager is a free image viewer and editor. It can play AVI and audio files.
FreeVimager can apply special effects to a picture, view EXIF data, create PNG graphics, create slideshows and optimize graphics.
A multi-format graphics viewer and converter.
XnView can apply special effects to a picture, view EXIF data, create PNG graphics, create slideshows, optimize graphics and convert RAW to JPG.
Batch image renamer/resizer.
Image Tuner Batch Photo Resizer can apply special effects to a picture, view EXIF data, optimize graphics, convert RAW to JPG and batch process images.
A RAW image editor, free and full of easy and useful features.
Raw Therapee can apply special effects to a picture and convert RAW to JPG.
Modern image editing and graphics processing application with a lot of useful tools and support for photo collages.
Fotor can apply special effects to a picture and convert RAW to JPG.
A fun drawing application which supports layers and digitizers.
PaintTool SAI can add text to an image and apply special effects to a picture.
Portable Windows version of the popular free image editor GIMP.
Portable GIMP can add text to an image, apply special effects to a picture, create web graphics, optimize graphics, create and edit layers and convert RAW to JPG.
FotoSketcher turns digital photos into drawings or paintings, for free!
FotoSketcher can apply special effects to a picture, create PNG graphics and optimize graphics.
Photo retouching software with scrapbooks, collages, slideshows and social media integration.
Adobe Photoshop Elements can apply special effects to a picture, view EXIF data, create web graphics and optimize graphics.
Works with different types of camera RAW files and applies filters.
Able RAWer can apply special effects to a picture and convert RAW to JPG.
Advanced image viewing software with some editing functionality, EXIF support and fast slideshow generation.
JPEGView can apply special effects to a picture, view EXIF data, create PNG graphics and convert RAW to JPG.
A popular graphics editor translated from Japanese to English.
Pixia is software which can apply special effects to a picture.
A fully-packed image editor and organization utility with several useful features.
StudioLine Photo Classic Plus can apply special effects to a picture, view EXIF data, create slideshows, optimize graphics and convert RAW to JPG.